Golden Suns Drop Opener at NCAA Regional

A complete-game pitching performance by Valerie Hohol lifted the University of Minnesota-Duluth to a 5-1 softball victory over Arkansas Tech University on the opening day of the 2018 NCAA Division II Tournament Central Regional at Maynard R. Johnson Field in Winona, Minn., on Thursday afternoon.

With the loss, the Golden Suns (43-18) fall into an elimination bracket game against regional host and top-seeded Winona State University (45-6) at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Live coverage will be available on KCAB 97.1 FM/980 AM and www.arkansastechsports.com.

Hohol (18-7) scattered seven hits over seven innings on Thursday. She was pitching a shutout until Makenzie Addis’ sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning brought Sarah Coronado home with Tech’s lone run.

Megan Goodnight (16-5) started in the circle for the Golden Suns and worked three innings. She was charged with one run on three hits and struck out six Bulldog batters.

Minnesota-Duluth (41-13) advances to face eighth-seeded Emporia State University (29-29) in a winners’ bracket contest at 1 p.m. Friday.

Access the NCAA Central Regional Bracket 1 home page.